Game Theory: A Merry Racist Jynx-mas

Welcome to Game Theory, the show that recently made Pokemon Part 3, Part 2, and is now analyzing cultural phenomena.

This week features a shorter stocking-stuffer episode about black-colored Christmas traditions before major episodes on Call of Duty, Skyrim, and Zelda.

The episode explores black-colored Christmas traditions, specifically through a Christmas tale called 'A Very Racist Jynx-mas'.

The host reads a Christmas story in rhyming couplets format to analyze the origins and implications of the Jynx character.

The episode 'Holiday Hi-Jynx' aired 12 years prior (1999) on the WB network, featuring Jynx dressed as Santa stealing toys from shelves.

• A woman complained that Jynx was a black cross-dressing character • The episode was banned • Jynx's skin was changed from black to address the offensive portrayal

The host questions whether Jynx was truly offensive or if the complaint was defensive, setting up an investigation into the character's true origins.

Moving beyond Japanese cartoons to examine holiday traditions in Belgium and Netherlands to find Jynx's source.

• Saint Nick figure known as Sinterklaas in Belgium and Netherlands • Travels with six to eight black men called Zwarte Piet (Black Peter) • Accompanied by helpers who blacken their faces and rouge their lips, dressed as pages

Saint Nick and Peter sail from Spain to bring Christmas joy, as living in the poles doesn't seem reasonable.

• Good children receive candy, cookies, and neat toys • Bad children face beating with a broom while locked in their room • Very bad children are stuffed in a sack and carried to Spain, never to be seen again

The tradition includes racist elements with unclear origins, ranging from devil-like portrayals to debated historical sources.

• Both feature black skin and red lips • Both serve as Santa's helping hand • Similarities largely end there despite visual parallels

Zwarte Piet's origins trace to devil portrayals and black-faced traditions, with some debate about the exact historical source.

• Media perpetuates lazy racial stereotypes: lazy Mexicans, smart Asians, offensive Jewish and white portrayals • These stereotypes persist across entertainment like Call of Duty • Hateful portrayals show no signs of disappearing

The holidays should be a time of love, peace, and setting aside differences as a single brotherhood of men, not perpetuating racist traditions.